Improvement in shoe-fastenings



NI'IED STATES PATENT IMPROVEMENT IN SHOE-FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183,544, dated October24, 1876; application filed April 29, 1876.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT E. DENNETT, of the city of Boston, in thecounty of Sutfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Fastenings for Boots and Shoes; and I dohereby declare that the following is such afull, clear, and exactdescription thereof as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which similar letters of referenceindicatecorresponding parts in the difierent figures. I

This invention relates to that class of boot and shoe fastenings inwhich the shoe-lacing passes around a series of small pulleys orsheaves'which are attached tothe shoe or boot, and enable the requisitedegree of tightness of the shoe upon the foot of the wearer to be easilyandspeedily produced by simply drawing up the string, and, when theproper adjustment is reached, securing it in a metallic holdfast ofpeculiar construction, which graspsand holds the lacing firmly, and fromwhich it may be as quickly unloosed by simply releasing thelacing fromits holdfast. The elasticity of the parts causes the string to commencerunning through the sheaves, and allows the shoe to be removed withoutfurther loosening of the lacing by the wearer; and the inventionconsists in the peculiar construction of the devices which hold thesheaves in place, and by which they are secured to the shoe, and in themethod of constructing the anchors for the lacing, as will behereinafter fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 of the drawing shows the form of the plate by which the deviceis attached to a boot or shoe, and which has secured to it thecovering-plate under which the revolving sheave is placed. Figs. 2 and 3exhibit modifications of this plate. Fig. 4 shows a back and front viewof the covering-plate, and Figs. 5 and 6 show modifications of the same.Fig. 7 gives a back, front, and side view of the button or eyelet whichis inserted into the covering-plate to form a bearing for one end of thesheave, and a smooth outer surface when it is desired to use acovering-plate without enameling it. Fig. 8 represents the scribed.

sheave around which the lacing passes. Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12 show thearticle in its finished state. Fig. 13 represents an anchor which issecured to the shoe or other article, and to which one end of the lacingis attached.

The plate a is formed by means of a suitable punching-machine, the punchof which corresponds in shape with the outlines of the plate, from asheet of metal, preferably brass or iron, the tangs b being intended forpassing through the material to which the device is attached, and to beclinched upon its opposite side. The plate is also provided with acentral depression, 0, for the reception-of one of the pivotsof thesheave d. The coveringplate e is formed with a central depressionsimilar to thatiu the plate a, for the reception of the other pivot ofthe sheave d: That part of the plate 6 immediately surrounding the pivotupon the outer side may be roughened, and the surface covered withenamel, forming a smooth and ornamental exterior of the shape shown bydotted lines in Fig. 9; or, if desired, a large opening, f, may beformed in the covering-plate, and. into this may be inserted the button9, the small end being passed through the opening f, which isthen closedupon the neck of the button, leaving its larger convex surface upon theoutside. 'Acavity is formed in the. small end of the button, whichreceives the pivot of the sheave, as indicated in Fig. 7. The arms hotthe covering-plate are bent at right angles to the central portions, andare secured to the plate a. by passing the triangular ends throughorifices iu the plate,

and then clinching them; or the orifices may be formed in the ends ofthe covering-plate, and the tangs of the plate a passed through them, asshown in Figs. 11 and 12.

The anchor 7c is formed of sheet metal by means of suitable punchingdevices, in the same manner as the plate a, heretofore de- It isprovided with the tangs m for the purpose of afl'ordin g a ready meansof attachment to the article upon which it is to be secured, and it isfurther provided with a central orifice, 0, through which the lacing ispassed, it being prevented from running eutirely through by a knot inone end, or other suitable device.

'FFIGF.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, the following:

1. The plate a, cut from a sheet of metal, having the tangs b, which areprovided with one or more slots, as shown, and a central depression, c,all substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 7 2. The anchor 70,cut from a sheet of metal, provided with taugs m and orifice 0, for thepurpose shown and described.

3. The combination of the plate a and covering-plate 0 with the sheaved, all being constructed and arranged "as and for the purpose specified.

4. The covering-plate 6, having a central depression to receive thepivot of the sheave d, and provided with arms h, adapted'to enter slotsin the plate a, all substantially as and for the purpose stated.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing l hereunto affix my signatureinthe presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT E. DENNETT.

Witnesses:

H. J. POOR, O. W. WHITE.

